The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-31
Prohibition in Georgia.


Not a few of the leading Georgia Prohi-
bitionistS are confident that every county
in the State will have adopted prohibition
within the next two or three years. One
hundred and fifteen counties have adopted
either prohibition or high license, and in all
the others of the 137 the prohibition senti-
ment is more or less strong. Every once in
J a while the announcement is made that an
other town or county has voted for prohi-
! bition, and it would not be at all surprising
| if within n comparatively short time the
! whole State were captured by the Prohl-
| hitionists
When prohibition was adopted by At
lanta there was a great cutlery against it in
that city. 1t was said that real estate had
! deprecated in many instances to an alarm
ing extent, that the business of the town
had been ruined and that improvements of
all sorts had been checked. The picture
which the Observation-Disclosures drew OF At
lauta's future was very gloomy one in
deed. They insisted that the town was
on the down grade and created the impress
sion that it would soon be not much better
than deserted mining camp.
A few days ago, in answer to inquiries
from Chattanooga, many of the business
men were asked what the effect of prohi-
ton had been. Almost without a dissent
ing voice they declared that it had helped
the town wonderfully Even those who
had voted against prohibition willingly adj
mitted that the result had been very differ
ent from what they had expected, and that
prohibition, instead of hurting, had helped
business Some of them even went so far
as to say that they believed the city was far
more prosperous than it would have been
had prohibition been. defeated
There was one feature of the interviews
with business men that was particularly
noticeable. 1t was that which related to
collections from workingmen and their
trade. 1t seems that since the adoption of
prohibition the laboring class has spent
more money for the necessaries and com
forts Of life, and have paid their bills more
promptly. A fair inference from this con
dition of affairs is that there are more hap
py homes in Atlanta than there ever were
before.
In all the country districts where pro
hibition prevails there is the greatest salts
faction with it, Labor is far more reliable
and crimes of violence are much less fire.
quent. There are evidences of thrift and
prosperity where there were only indications
of neglect and poverty. The people seem
to be happier and look to the future more
hopefully. Tho reason is that their home
life is more attractive, being free from the
poverty and deeds of violence for which
strong drink was responsible
No one will deny that the Prohibitionists
have managed wisely in Georgia. They have
not forced prohibition upon communities
by legislation which did not want it. They
converted the people to it, and when it was
adopted it had solid foundation to rest
upon-a foundation that promises to grow
more solid with time. Wherever public
sentiment is for prohibition there it will lie
enforced, and its beneficial results witnessed.
II the Prohlbtionists pursue the same wise
course in the future that they have in the
past it is probable that the prediction of
leading Prohibitionists, that at no distant
day every county in the State will have
prohibition, will be realized